By News Karnataka
Copyright newskarnataka
Kalaburagi: Karnataka IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge has defended Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s recent comments on inequality within Hindu society, even as the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the ruling Congress of creating religious divides for political purposes.
Kharge recalls historical context
Speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi on Monday, Kharge said critics of the Chief Minister’s remarks lacked awareness of India’s social and religious history. He pointed out that religions such as Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Lingayatism emerged in India because certain groups within Hindu society were denied dignity and equal space.
Kharge, who belongs to a Dalit community, added that the varna system was unique to Hinduism and cited Dr B R Ambedkar’s decision to renounce Hinduism as an example of how caste-based discrimination shaped personal and social choices.
CM’s stand on caste census
The debate comes ahead of the state’s caste census, scheduled to begin on September 22. Responding to a question on the issue, Siddaramaiah had said on September 13 that many people in the past had converted to other religions due to discrimination and lack of opportunities within the Hindu social structure.
The Chief Minister argued that no political party had ever asked people to convert and stressed that individuals had the right to choose their religion.
BJP’s counterattack
The BJP has strongly criticised the statements made by both Siddaramaiah and Kharge. State party president B Y Vijayendra alleged that the remarks were part of a deliberate attempt by the Congress to divide society.
“This is not about history; it’s about the Congress trying to encourage conversions and disrespect Hindu beliefs,” Vijayendra said on Sunday.
Party MLC C T Ravi echoed the criticism, claiming the Congress was raising divisive issues to distract from governance failures. He stated that while the BJP supported efforts to fight casteism, it opposed any move that would undermine religion itself.
Conversion debate resurfaces
Ravi further alleged that conversions were not a result of inequality but of “appeasement politics” by the Congress. He urged Siddaramaiah to “stop blaming Hindu society and focus on improving administration.”
The Congress leadership, however, has maintained that both the caste census and discussions around equality are meant to address long-standing disparities rather than provoke division.
The exchange has intensified political debate in Karnataka ahead of the caste census. While the ruling Congress argues that addressing inequality is central to building a just society, the BJP accuses the government of using sensitive issues to deflect from governance challenges. With both sides sticking to their positions, the matter is expected to remain a major talking point in the state’s political discourse in the coming weeks.
